(Then when the fear had gone away from (Ibrahim), and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut. Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant. "O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back.'')(11:74-76) Allah said here,

﴿قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ ﴾

((Ibrahim) said: "Then for what purpose you have come, O messengers'') meaning, `what is the mission that you were sent with,'

﴿قَالُواْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴾

(They said: "We have been sent to a people who are criminals.'') in reference to the people of Lut,

﴿لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ مُّسَوَّمَةً﴾

(To send down upon them stones of baked clay, marked), or written,

﴿عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ﴾

(by your Lord for transgressors.) recorded with Allah to their names; each stone has the name of its companion. Allah said in Surat Al-`Ankabut,

((Ibrahim) said: "But there is Lut in it.'' They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily save him and his family except his wife: she will be of those who remain behind.'')(29:32), and said here,

﴿فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴾

(So We brought out from therein the believers.) they are: Lut and his family, except his wife,

﴿فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴾

(But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one.) Allah the Exalted said,

(And We have left there a sign for those who fear the painful torment.) meaning, `We left a proof of the punishment, torment and stones made of Sijjil (baked clay) that We sent on them; We made their dwelling place a putrid, evil, dead sea. This should provide a lesson for the believers,'

(38. And in Musa, when We sent him to Fir`awn with a manifest authority.) (39. But (he) turned away along with his hosts, and said: "A sorcerer or a madman.'') (40. So We took him and his armies, and dumped them into the sea (Yamm), for he was blameworthy.) (41. And in `Ad when We sent against them the barren wind;) (42. It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.) (43. And in Thamud, when they were told: "Enjoy yourselves for a while!'') (44. But they insolently defied the command of their Lord, so the Sa`iqah overtook them while they were looking.) (45. Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves.) (46. (So were) the people of Nuh before them. Verily, they were a people who were rebellious.)